Historic move: Women will be admitted into NDA, Centre tells SC

In a historic move, the Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that women cadets will be allowed into the National Defence Academy for permanent commission into the the Armed Forces.

The top court was hearing a plea seeking directions for necessary steps to be taken to allow eligible female candidates to appear in the upcoming NDA examination, which is scheduled to be held on November 14.

The government, however, said it needs some time to frame guidelines to pave the way for women to take NDA courses. The Centre also sought an exemption for this year’s paper. The Supreme Court has told the centre to file its reply by September 20. 

Wednesday’s hearing came less than a month after the Supreme Court, in a landmark interim order, said women can sit for the NDA admission exam.

Appreciating the Centre’s move, the top court said it was glad to know that the armed forces themselves took the decision to induct women into the NDA. 

The court asked the government to place timelines of the process and the course of action.